Don’t look now, but downtown Gilbert is sporting one heckuva restaurant row. With no shortage of happy hour options amongst the bunch, you could do far worse than the Italian comforts of Nico, Gio Osso’s family-style follow up to Old Town Scottsdale’s hushed and reserved Virtù. But keep in mind, we’re not talking about basic spaghetti here. Begin with an apéritif in cocktail form: the NICO Spritz ($6) – gin, bright and bitter Aperol, and bubbly prosecco – will do the trick, preparing your stomach for rich antipasti. Spiced Nonna’s Meatballs ($5.50) with focaccia are a good start, but don’t miss the indulgent grilled asparagus ($6.50), served with chewy bits of bacon candy, smothered in foie gras hollandaise and topped with a fried duck egg. Pairing tip: Wash it all down with a crisp, Belgian-style Matilda brew ($7) from Goose Island. 3-5 p.m. M-F

“Whose world is this? The world is yours,” rapped hip hop artist Nas. So don’t be intimidated by Joe’s brash, mic-grabbing hip-hop motif, from the music selection down to the graffiti-tagged branding and Biggie Smalls-stamped menus – it’s all bourgeoisie theater. During happy hour, everything is $2 off, save for paper-bagged 40s of Bud Light and King Cobra. For $6, you’ll want to get a refreshingly boozy “Pie” Tai – essentially a classic Mai Tai, but made with Tempe-based CaskWerks Distilling Co.’s Apple Pie Liqueur – spinning ASAP. You could get wild with currant-studded curried cauliflower ($5), or blistered shishito peppers ($7), or play it perfectly safe, but no less flavorfully, with an Argentina-style skirt steak ($8), accompanied by chunky, herbaceous chimichurri. 3-6 p.m. M-F; 11 p.m.-2 a.m. Su-Th